Wild times, Streakers. Wild times!

As you’ve probably Heard by now, it’s increasingly likely that Tre White and Melvin Council Jr. will return for another year at KU. I suspect many KU fans — myself included — are OK with this. KU still sorely needs experienced depth, and both White and Council Jr. fit the bill there, to say the least. Two seasoned, fairly accomplished pieces returning is patently Good for Jayhawks.

Acknowledging “fit issues” in the NIL is the new normal in this era, and like I said, KU will take depth and experience wherever they can get it right now. But, for the sake of getting some thoughts down, let’s discuss what each player potentially adds to KU in 26-27.

MELVIN COUNCIL JR

No player in the NIL era has embraced the KU experience like Council. He is extremely easy to root for, and plays with juice and joy. He’s a terror in transition, which is often all heart. I love the guy. It was heartening to go to the KU fan store in Allen and observe his jersey was completely sold out, while dozens of Peterson jersey sat on the rack.

Unfortunately, they do not play the sport with two balls… yet. Council’s best games last season came when he had the ball in his hands and full freedom to end plays with a drive. This is not to say that KU cannot use this. However, with two ball-dominant star freshmen in the mix, the dynamic becomes complicated.

Council clearly wants to play at the next level, and he got a look in Summer League with the Pelicans. He did not see the floor much. Another year of seasoning against a stacked competitive schedule is a good look for Council if he’s chasing that ambition a year from now.

Let’s flip on the Crimson and Blue shades, as if they ever came off. Council has incentive to work on his off-ball movement — he is a long ways away from being asked to initiate an NBA offense — shooting and defense. That’s how he’s cracking the league, if he ends up doing that. Those three areas are where the Jayhawks have struggled in recent years, and his reinforcement is welcome.

Council is coachable, willing, and plays harder than anyone. Let’s hope he sees this season as a chance to round out his game on a parallel path to what the Jayhawks need.

TRE WHITE

KU needs shooting, period, and Tre shot the three at a 40% clip. That plays anywhere. Like Council, a role shift may be required for this team to crossover from “good” to “great.”

Tre White confuses me. He has the tools — shooting, excellent rebounder for a wing, easily a good enough athlete to hold his own in the NBA or the EuroLeague. It’s an incredibly sturdy baseline of stuff.

So why am I left wanting? With that skill set and 3PT%, why isn’t he a first rounder?

White makes a lot of mistakes, and can exist outside the flow of plays, going MIA for long stretches. It often seemed like Self didn’t trust him when it mattered. I see Tre White’s ideal role on this team as a catch-and-shoot dynamo, sliding around to perimeter to support drives, bombs away. This will demand timing, awareness. and knowing the offense thoroughly. It’s a completely different ask from last season.

Ever since the Knicks won the NBA Championship — despite having notably less shiny talent than their opponent — I’ve been thinking a lot about how that worked. The leagues are different, but both environments are dealing with a shrinking of the talent margins at the high-end of the sports. It sounds simple, but every Knick in the rotation knew their role, and not only accepted it. They perfected it.

Naturally, there’s going to be some sliding around role-wise depending on the matchup or game level of a role player (Landry freaking Shamet). This idea will hold for KU this season. Council and White both shore up weaknesses for Kansas. Will they accept light role demotions, or play in the way that best compliments Kinney and Stokes?

It’s the offseason, and hope springs eternal, etc. Yet the chatter around Stokes’ time in Lawrence so far suggests he is an unstoppable prospect. He won’t be hamstrung (ha) by limited ability driving the ball, and that gravity is going to make things easier for everyone. Less is expected of freshman now, no matter how hyped, since they’re going against older guys. Stokes appears to be one of the rare modern prospects that will challenge this new-ish lightening of expectations.

For KU to reach their ceiling this season, Council and Tre White will need to make adjustments. They’ll need to slot in where the team needs them, and master that role.

It might look like a demotion. With both players having a laundry list of items to work on through their Summer League experience, I hope they see it as an opportunity.